Day 31 - A picture and your favorite quote or saying

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

Day 29 - A picture of a group of people

This is one heck of a group.... a group of people I LOVE!!!

This is my family at Bear Lake earlier this month.

What a good looking group of people... well at least a funny looking group of people.

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

Heights

Ugh... I don't like standing near the edge of ANYTHING!

I am getting the chills just looking at these pictures

(and they are not even me!)

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you

Day 25 - A picture of your favorite day

Shocker I know right... who didn't guess this one?

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change

There is something kinda cute about a Pot Belly Pig, and I am sort of jealous, cuz why can a pig get away with being cute with a pot belly... but I on the other had, ummm not so much.

{The following image is not me, I repeat it is not me, my pot belly is bigger.}

I should name my belly, because it always hangs around after every holiday, joins me on vacation, and no matter how hard I try to have time away from my belly... there it is, right by my side again. It loves me, and doesn't want to leave me... ever!

It is not for the lack of trying.... wait that is a lie, I go through spurts of trying. I almost eliminated the belly for over a month, then I went on vacation and it
followed me home, wait no, I followed it home.

I have sort of a love-hate relationship with the belly. I love to hate it. Some day, some day soon (I hope), I will look back on the days when my belly was just a memory, a bad memory.

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite flower

For years my favorite flower has been the Gerbera Daisy. I love their bright colors and how long they last, it is just a flower that screams "I'M HAPPY!" ...but this weekend it was overthrown by a new love. I am now in love with the wild flowers of Albiona Basin above Alta.

We shot an engagement on a piece of land that these "property owners" had and I can not express to you how BeAuTiFuL it was! The blues from the blue bells, the reds from the Indian Paint Brush, there were pink flowers, and white, and the Yellow.. oh My Gosh! And the smell of all of these flowers in this beautiful setting was so aromatic. So my new favorite flower... it a mountain side of wild (illegal to pick) flowers!

I did not shoot but this image I found online can give you an idea of how amazing it was!

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at

Numbers...and anything to do with NUMBERS...

I just don't like numbers. I have the hardest time remembering numbers and the idea of doing a mathematical equations makes my head hurt. I just don't get it. I think people who understand math and get numbers have a gift and should be VERY thankful!

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget

Heart Break.

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

Day 19 - A picture and a letter

This letter was left for Becky and I one evening by Alexis. It reads:

Girls

Goodnight i am

in bed. hope you

had a fun night

sleep well i will

see you in the

morning i tried to

clean up the best i

could. if anything wasnt

up to your standards tell

me and i will fix it tomorrow

love you, sleep well.

Alexis Mease

I got a good laugh that my 18 year old is leaving ME notes to tell me goodnight. That is sort of sad... and funny.

Day 18 - A picture of someone who inspires you

For me there is not one specific person, but a group of amazing women that inspire me all of the time. My Bunko group, my friends, my neighbors.... how ever you want to define them, to me they are all wonderful. Each has qualities that make you want to be a better person. These women are very artistic, talented, kind, generous, they are fighters, survivors, winners, strong, giving, and loving, ... oh this list could go on and on. They are truly a group of women that inspire me.

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

Day 16 - A picture of your biggest insecurity

My biggest insecurity is that I will end up alone.

I have many sleepless nights worried that my children will grow up and have families of their own and that I will be home, all alone. I want that fairy book ending where a man is sitting on the porch holding my hand and we are growing old together. I want to know that someone loves me (someone that I did not give birth to and loves me out of sheer obligation.) I am scared that I am not going to find that one person that I can not live without.

(Yes I know I went out of order... I was stumped)

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die

...nothing is coming to mind.

Any suggestions?

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

Christ.
He has held me when I have felt alone in my life. At my deepest points he lifted me up and took my pain and sorrow and gave me relief and courage to over come very, very difficult times. I trust in him, believe in him, and count on him to always be there for me. I can not imagine what life would be like to not have him in my life.
I love this picture done by Liz Lemon Swindle, to me he looks like he has such concern and compassion in his face. He is not wearing a white flowing gown and standing in the clouds, he looks real to me.

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist

I don't have a "Favorite" artist, band, candy bar... TV show... etc... etc... I am a follower. I listen to what the majority of society is listening to, I am not a trend setter or have a sound that Defines who I am. I am willing to listen to country, rock, pop, alternative, techno, classical.. I can appreciate most music for what it is worth.

If I had to choose what I listed to right now I would say top 40 stuff. Dance music, stuff you can-sing in the car-when no one can hear you-kind of music, that is my favorite right now.

Day 12 - A picture of something you love

I just realized I am starting to sound a wee bit cheesy. Well here I go again, I love smiles on my kids faces. I love to see them happy. I love going and doing things with them and being part of their lives. I love when they tell me I am cool, or they complement me for being a "cool" mom... that is HUGE in my book.
In the end, the one thing I love more than anything is having 5 little people call me mom .
Thank you to MY little people... I love each of you so much. XOXOXO
Oh, I love hugs and kisses too.

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate

Excuse me.... (insert vomit sound)

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with

Define messed up?

I don't get into trouble.

I don't drink.

I don't get all crazy...

so I had to think hard about this one.

I decided on Becky.

Take this picture for example... this is not one of those a picture is worth a 1000 words kind of picture. This was shot on New Years eve this year, in my back yard, after returning home from watching Disney's Tangled. The bottle is Martinelli's Sparkling Cider and we are giggly and red nosed from being out "late" and from the cold, not because of alcohol.
Becky is my partner in crime though.

We went to see a rated R movie (The Hangover) in the middle of the day, during work once.

We stay out till 2-3 in the morning with guys after going to a singles dance (if you knew them you would know they are harmless).
We even crashed a singles party we found on Face Book this past weekend, don't worry it was an LDS standards approved party. Being the party people that we are we left at 11:30 when the DJ shut down do to the noise ordinance in Lindon.

Ya it may not be messed up in your opinion, but single women as old as I am doing these things is messed up!

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has stood by your side the longest

My best friend Melanie. A scrapbook retreat brought us together in the year 2000 and she has been there for me ever since.
A prime example of a great friend who stands by your side is when Melanie almost took out a security guard when I passed out in a bathroom of the South Town Expo Center and they would not let her in because the paramedics were on their way. I am not sure if she rode in the ambulance, or just told the people at the hospital that she was my sister, but she ended up back in the ER with me.
We have times were we have laughed so hard that our sides hurt, other times where we have cried together, and we have even had times where we have been ornery with each other (it is typically around 2 am when we are working on a project together).
Melanie has been there for me through a lot of difficult times and has always been a rock for me... except that one time when she lost it during Cameron's delivery, but I think I can let that slide.

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh

LOl.....ROFLMAO... This kills me every time I look at it! I am not sure if it is the "Cindy Lou Who" looking face or the toilets in the background or the fact that it is my sister Tracy... I can not help but laugh inside really hard EVERY time I look at it.

I have this as her phone profile pic... love it!!!

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item

I don't have a most treasured "item".

I can't think of one thing I value more than my children!

I am so blessed to have them in my life and to be part of theirs.

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

Cameron... Seriously, why not!

I would have someone get me up in the morning, make me breakfast, play with my friends all day, not have to worry about stopping to use the bathroom, and when I did use the bathroom someone else would change me. Then I'd have lunch made for me, NAP TIME, then more playing, snack time, and then time to go home, and someone else would drive.

Then at home dinner would be made for me, play with some toys and not clean them up, have my bath water run for me. Play on the tub as long as I could get away with it, have someone rub lotion all over me, dress me and then wind down with a treat. Then when it is time for bed I would get tucked in, a big hug and a kiss, and to top it off sung to. Sounds stress free to me...

Day 05 - A picture of a place filled with memories

The Grand Canyon is filled with a variety of memories. All Good!

I remember going to the Grand Canyon in 1982, I was 13, with my grandparents. For some reason I remember having to sit on the hump in the car... but I am not 100% positive that it was this trip. But I look ticked in this picture so maybe it was.

Then when I married Brian, he and I honeymooned in one of the cabins that are next to the big lodge, that was in September of 1990. That was awesome, for more than one reason. I have two strong memories from that trip, the first one was getting up one morning and watching the fog roll through the canyon due to the storm during the night, it was so beautiful. The other was when a little mouse had snuck into our cabin and was trying to steal my half eaten Big Hunk candy bar off of the table... you will have to ask Brian how he reacted, I am trying not to laugh just thinking about it.

The last time I went to the Grand Canyon was in 2005 with Donovan and the kids. We were on vacation in St George and decided on a whim to head to the Grand Canyon. We arrived just as a storm was moving out and were greeted by a magnificent rainbow across the canyon.

That trip holds a lot of wonderful memories, that day I left with a different perspective on family, I am not sure what specific event happened or if it was the culmination of multiple events, I just know that when we left the canyon I felt extremely blessed to have the family I had, but that my family was not complete.

Day 04 - A picture of something I take pride in

I take pride in my home. I try very hard to always make it look nice. I try to always make my home comfortable to others, whether it be the friends of my kids, my neighbors, or family, I want them to feel good when they are here.

I like to keep my home clean and for the most part organized. I love my yard very manicured; I LOVE the day my yard is mowed, edged and trimmed. It makes me feel good to receive complements on my home and yard.

I was raised to take care of the things you have, cherish them, keep the things you worked for in the best condition, because you can't just get a replacement. My home is the biggest financial investment I make on a monthly basis. Why wouldn't I take great pride in it?

Day 03: A picture of the cast from my favorite show

I don't do "Favorites" for the most part I have a hard time singleing any one thing out over something else. I like reality TV so I tend to watch a season of something and then move on, like Survivor, not currently on so it was replaced with Bachelorett, which became a party each week at my house with Melanie, Juliet and David and any of my kids that happen to wander into the room.

I also don't watch much TV in the summer but we have DVR'd every episode of Ghost Adventures so that is typically what I will turn on when I get a chance to sit down. In a nut shell it is 3 guys who search out paranormal activity and try to prove that there ghosts. I have decided either you love Zack and the guys, or hate them, no middle of the road. So I guess you could call that my "favorite" for now... but give me a few weeks and something else will take it's place.

Day 02: A picture of me and the person I have been closest with the longest

I think this one is self explanatory. I love my mom. She is the best ever. I love that I can spend an entire week with her on vacation and never get sick of her... I think that says a lot.

Day 01: Picture of me and 10 facts

1. My name is Lore, with an E. Named after my mom, Hannelore. My name was supposed to be Michelle but my dad was worried that when he filled out the birth certificate he would spell my name wrong and I would be Michael. So he went with Lore to be safe.
2. I love bunnies. My first bunny was named Thumper, he was awesome. He got too big and I ended up taking him to a pet store to give to a loving home. I choose to not talk about the other bunnies I had, cuz they died.
3. I was born in Landstul Germany. My birth certificate is in German. Ask me how fun it is to get a government document when they require a birth certificate as proof you are who you are.
4. I love to throw parties, even more so when the party has a theme and I get to decorate.
5. When asking my friend Melanie to name 10 facts about me she said “You have the Coolest Mom EVER!” and apparently I do. The more and more I hear stories about friend’s mom’s I am VERY, VERY thankful that I have the mom I do.
6. I love big tires. The sound, the look, the ride… oh what is there NOT to love about a awesome pair of mudders!
7. I have been on Life Flight as a passenger. I broke my jaw in three places, fractured my skull, and broke out a tooth in a car accident when I was 13… or 14.
8. I love the smell of plastic… you know like the new shower curtain kind of smell. LOVE IT!
9. I still have a dead canary in my freezer.
10. I hate skiing, and most other snow related outdoor activities.